Chicago PD Season 6 Episode 21 Review: Confession
Lizzy Buczak
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Would you sell your soul if it meant hurting the people you love?
That question -- posed to Antonio on Chicago PD Season 6 Episode 21 -- sums up the entire hour.
The idea of guilt, and how much guilt you could live with, was a central theme as it applied to Antonio, Leo Hernandez, and Carlos in differing capacities.
All three of them refused to confess their secrets and face the truth because they were protecting something or someone.
Carlos told Antonio that if he told the truth, no matter how good it felt in his soul, Alex Del Toro would kill his brother, Beto.
Leo Hernandez was running away and refusing to be the one to take Kelton down because he was protecting his family.
Hank: The same serial killer was active a few years ago. And that email from Det. Leo Hernandez proves that the CPD knew about it and covered it up under orders of Brian Kelton.
Katherine Bradley: As in the next Mayor of Chicago, Brian Kelton?
Hank: Four women were killed after that email was sent. They'd still be alive today. Those bodies are on Kelton.
And Antonio was allowing Voight and Ruzek to look for alternative solutions to his serial killer predicament to protect them and his career.
But the thing about secrets and lies is that they have a way of catching up with you sooner or later.
Related: Chicago PD Season 6 Episode 19 Review: What Could Have Been
Even when you think the dust has settled, it'll sneak up on you.
In Carlos' case, it didn't matter if he told the cops the truth. Del Toro would come after Beto regardless since he got deemed a loose end
Similarly, Antonio's past finally caught up with him and bubbled to the surface.
Hey, at least we're seeing some consistency from the writers.
The penultimate episode of Chicago PD was the beginning of the end for Antonio.
And it's bittersweet given how much we care about the character.
Worst of all, the loathed Kelton is going to be the one who possibly ends his career.
Voight attempted to sabotage Kelton's mayoral run by thinking that if Kelton didn't become Mayor he wouldn't be able to re-open the IRT investigation.
But beating Kelton is a tall ask mainly because Kelton is untouchable and has everyone in his pocket.
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Even poor Kate warned Voight that there isn't a happy ending; Kelton always gets his way.
And she of all people should know -- she protected Kelton all these years only to become his scapegoat.
If he's willing to destroy his friends, he'll enjoy bringing down Voight.
Kate taking the blame for the serial killer cover-up during the press conference was a surprising twist and admittedly, one I didn't see coming.
Would you save your soul if it meant hurting the people you love?
Carlos
I thought that Kelton would somehow expose Antonio with whatever evidence they had against him thus destroying his career and Intelligence's credibility.
After all, Voight has said plenty of times that Kelton's first order of business after becoming Mayor is to destroy Intelligence.
And now that he's just a step away from wielding all that power, Voight better watch out.
Voight usually knows when there's a threat present, and I don't think he's ever faced someone as villainous, manipulative, and eager to win as Kelton, though he's come across his fair share of bad guys.
Related: Chicago PD Season 6 Episode 20 Review: Sacrifice
Yet, Kate's warning that "he's coming" was ominous.
I couldn't help but feel bad for Kate after all was said and done.
When she said she thought she had all these friends, but in her darkest hour, no one was there for her except Voight, I felt that.
What a thought-provoking realization about our society.
We're about to see an epic showdown between two of the city's most powerful players.
Sadly, I can't say I'm impressed with how Voight's handled the situation leading up to this moment.
Voight had ulterior motives when trying to convince Leo Hernandez to blow the whistle on Kelton.
He didn't want to expose Kelton because it was the right thing to do, he only cared because it benefitted him and Antonio.
If there was nothing in it for him, Voight wouldn't have cared about all the women who were innocently murdered and forgotten.
This wasn't about justice, this was about personal gain.
The continuation of Antonio's storyline, which previously felt like it got swept under the rug, would have been more satisfying if it wasn't a device ploy to write off Antonio's character.
Considering there have been official reports that Antonio is exiting the series, it's hard to get invested when you know there are only a handful of outcomes.
Antonio could take the fall and leave the force, he could move to a different state and get a job with a government agency like Lindsay, or he could get killed off like Olinsky.
Either way, none of these options seem ideal.
Hank: I'm worried about you, Kate.
Kate: Don't worry about me, worry about yourself. Kelton is coming for you.
In the promo for the Chicago PD Season 6 finale, Voight says "he's going to do what needs to be done" as Burgess, Atwater, and Halstead enter a house and look down at what I'm guessing is a dead body.
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But whose dead body is it?
Did Voight, Ruzek, and Antonio kill Kelton? That would only make things worse for them.
That leads me to believe that Antonio is going to die, and I don't want to accept it.
If you have any other theories, please, send them my way!
The case of the week clocked in as one of the most interesting this season.
Antonio: Hank, enough's enough. This thing is on me.
Hank: Antonio...
Antonio: I'm the one that needs to tell the truth.
Ruzek: You know you can't do that, Antonio.
Antonio: I'm the one who killed a guy.
Ruzek: Yeah, I know, we're the ones who covered it up for you.
It's a shame that two innocent young men had to die at the hands of a ruthless drug dealer.
It was also heartbreaking to see Del Toro murder Beto in cold blood considering the brothers considered him to be family.
However, there's nothing more satisfying than seeing Antonio finally bust a dude that had it coming.
Now, that's what I call justice being served.
Antonio became emotionally invested in the case, which is proof that everything you do in this line of work sticks with you forever.
I fully expected him to push Del Toro off the balcony hoping that it would get him fired and somehow get Voight and Ruzek off the hook.
It was a nice moment reminding us that when Antonio isn't high, he isn't making careless mistakes.
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The corruption is running rampant in Chicago. Even for Chicago, it's a lot.
We've been preparing for a Kelton vs. Voight showdown all season long and it's finally showtime on the Chicago PD Season 6 Season Finale.
Kate: You are making a mistake. You come after Kelton like this somebody is gonna get hurt, and it won't be Kelton. He'll win. He always wins.
Hank: Kate, why are you protecting him?
Kate: Brian Kelton is going to be Mayor of Chicago in one week. That is a fact. You have to come to peace with that.
Hank: If Kelton gets elected, his first order of business will be to disband Intelligence. That is not peace, that is war.
Do you think Kelton is going to weasel his way out of this and get elected as Mayor of Chicago?
Will Voight figure out a way to stop him?
And how will they write off Antonio?
If you missed any episodes, you can watch Chicago PD online and catch up before the season finale.
Don't forget to share your comments below!
Lizzy Buczak was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She retired in June 2021..
